Inhofe Fundraises Off Environmental Protests at His Google Fundraiser

Last week Google upset environmental groups when it feted one of the Senate's most conservative Republicans, Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe. A day later, he began raising money off their protests and Google's support.

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Last week Google upset environmental groups when it feted one of the Senate’s most conservative Republicans, Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe. A day later, he began raising money off their protests and Google’s support.

Inhofe, who has called global warming a hoax and said birthers “have a point,” sent an email blast to campaign supporters Friday afternoon highlighting the more than $700 million Google has invested in his state and the company’s support for him.

“Join our fundraiser and upset the environmentalists by donating $25,” Inhofe’s campaign wrote below a photo of a dozen protesters holding signs outside of the Internet giant’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, where the fundraiser—with tickets costing up to $2,500—was held.

Google has drawn the ire of environmental groups for its support of Inhofe and other Republicans, which the groups contend put the company in violation of its “Don’t Be Evil” corporate mantra.

A spokesperson for Inhofe did not immediately return a request for comment.

LIke much else Inhofe says and does, this is at best disingenuous. Google isn't investing in Oklahoma, it's an accident of geography. Google needed a data center (server farm) where land, energy, and local wages were cheap: Voila, OK. The jobs are surely almost all minimum-wage cleaning and security staff, ideal for recent immigrants. The vast percentage of the investment is hardware, much of it made in foreign lands. The energy is low-cost, renewable hydroelectric and wind—big wind farms are sprouting across this region because of strong prevailing winds and a landscape unburdened by human activity. (Fascinating that Inhofe is suddenly such a big supporter of renewable energy. He should be sure and let all his big oil and gas contributors know of his change of heart.) It's also possible OK gave Google a fat tax break.